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Question:
Root Canal Pain - Anxiety:
Can a person get drugged up before getting a root canal?
Is there anyway that you don't have to experience any pain before, after, or during the procedure? Do you all still use laughing gas?
Is there anyway that novacaine can be applied without needles? (As you can see I'm not fond of pain at all) ...Visitor from MD
Answer:
There are 3 different types of sedation. The lightest form of sedation is nitrous oxide (laughing gas). This produces a mild sense of relaxation.
Oral sedation is a moderate form of sedation. This form of sedation typically uses two pills taken before the dental visit to produce a deep state of relaxation. It is best used for short appointments, because once the drug reaches its peak state of relaxation it slowly begins to wear off.
The deepest form of sedation is IV sedation (sleep dentistry). This form of sedation uses pain relieving and sedative drugs to create a sleep like state where the patient is virtually unaware of the dentistry being preformed. Most patients have little or no memory of the visit.
Only about 4% of dentists have the training and licensing to provide IV Sedation.
Some dentists have access to all of the above forms of sedation to help a patient feel comfortable before, during and after treatment.
In your case... the solution may be to prescribe an oral sedation mediation to help you relax before for your visit. One pill could be taken the night before and another the morning of your scheduled treatment. Once you arrive for your dental appointment use nitrous oxide mixed with oxygen to further help you relax while IV Sedation is started. Once you are in the sleep like state, treatment can begin with a local anesthetic (Novocain). You would have little or no memory of the visit.
Editorial Staff
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